Building-block.



UNITED STATES Patented J une 7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PORTEN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO BUILDING BLOCK MANUFACTURING CO., A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `Letters Patent No. 762,251, dated June 7, 1904.

Application filed April 12, 1904:.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM POR'IEN, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to artificial buildingblocks, such as are used in the erection of dwelling-houses and other structures; and the object of the invention is to provide means whereby the workman can easily move the block from place to place or put it in position on the wall.

The invention consists generally in a building-block having vertical recesses in its ends and niches formed in the bottom of said recesses to receive the fingers of the workman in handling the block.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a building-block embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the saine on the line .fc fr. of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end view of the block.

In the drawings, 2 represents an oblong building-block having, as usual in blocks of this kind, a series of vertical core holes or recesses 3 extending therethrough from top to bottom of the block. At each end of the block are vertically-arranged core holes or recesses 4. In the bottom of these recesses, near the top of the block. I provide niches 5, adapted to receive the ends of the fingers and enable the workman to obtain a suiicient finger-grip Serial No. 202,737. (No model.)

on the block to easily move it from place to place.

The niches are suiiiciently near the top of the block so that in grasping it the workman will place his fingers in the niches with the thumbs bearing upon the top of the block. The lower walls of the niches are preferably inclined, as shown, to facilitate the withdrawal of the core from the recess. The niches being in the bottom of the recesses, it will be possible for the workman to,set the blocks up end to end against each other without any danger of pinching thengers between the blocks.

I claim as my invention l. As a new article of manufacture, a building-block having vertical recesses in its ends of suiiicient depth to receive the hands when theblocks are placed end to end, niches adapted to receive the fingers formed in the bottom of said recesses near the top surface of said block and having downwardly-inclined lower walls, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a building-block having vertical recesses in its ends and niches formed in the bottom of said recesses, the walls of said niches being substantially horizontal on the upper side and downwardly inclined on the lower side..

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of April, 1904.

WILLIAM PORTEN.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, M. HAGERTY. 

